and establishes a new protected class of citizen "the homosexual class". And, on
Veteran's Day, the freedom to chose who you employ and who you rent to is taken
away by a dictatorial town government with the support of its largest
institution. Shame on Salt Lake, and shame on the LDS Church, and pity the man
who laid down his life to defend "freedom and liberty"

I was disappointed in the church when it spent so much effort on Prop 8 and
ignored an opportunity to oppose Physician Assisted Suicide in this state. Not
that I was against Prop 8, but I thought standing against killing yourself was a
greater moral imperative.

That said, I was curious as to how it
would respond to referendum 71, an effort by the Christian Right to reverse a
domestic partners act that lends all civil rights to unmarried registered civil
unions, the so called "Anything but Marriage Act."

The Church made no
official pronouncements, and I saw no unofficial organization in my Ward or
Stake to support referendum 71. This seems very consistant with the Churches
pronouncement about the SLC statute, and in that context, it shouldn't have
surprised those aware of the world outside of Utah and California.

I'm still disappointed that the Church let "Death with Dignity" slide right by
without a peep, but I see no hypocrisy in their approach to gay rights and
marriage.

This is good news, but the choice of the word "violence" by Otterson is
disturbing. They want credit for opposing discrimination (and for the record
this is new for the LDS leaders who have opposed anti-discrimination laws in
areas of race and gender in the past). They did serious violence to marriage in
California's Prop 8 campaign and now have the gall to declare this legal change
as "non-violent" to marriage. This amazes me!

I believe that the Obamalosi(tm) government healthcare bill is likely to be the
foot in the door of solving the problems with "domestic partners" not receiving
coverage from employers of either (or more) who share the same domicile
completely bypassing the institution of marriage. It's not hard to add these
things up and see where the "bubbleheads" passing such legislation are taking
these things regardless of how political correctness is figuratively and
literally killing us as seen by the affirmative action problems that hindered
full investigation of our own people for fear of hurting someone's feelings.

It's high time we stopped tiptoeing around everything and grew our
backbones back (no pun intended). This is not about hate, but rather admitting
that when you try so hard not to categorize people, that is exactly what you end
up doing. As far as what the Church did here, I am still baking on it but do not
see the need to have even had a spokesperson make a statement about it. I am not
all seeing or knowing either but seek out enlightenment whenever I can.

The argument that gays will sue to get married in the temple is almost as stupid
as the argumnebt that the church did this to protect its tax exempt status.
Sometimes I can't tell which side is dumber.

Now enter the government and establishes a new protected class of citizen "the
homosexual class". And, on Veteran's Day, the freedom to chose who you employ
and who you rent to is taken away by a dictatorial town government with the
support of its largest institution. Shame on Salt Lake, and shame on the LDS
Church, and pity the man who laid down his life to defend "freedom and liberty"

-----------

As a mother of a marine, I did not allow my
son to defend your "right" to discriminate! He fought for ALL Americans, not
just those that you judge to be righteous and like you.

Who is the
"least among us?" Would you do this to Christ? Why do it to any of God's
Children?

This isn't really a change in stance for the Mormon Church. In 1995 President
Hinckley said "Now we have gays in the church. Good people." Even President
Kimball said gay people were "basically good people". When I read those as a
faithful gay member of the church, I felt loved and included in the church.

I think the way the media typically portrays Mormonism distorts the
actual teachings of the church. Th Church has always taught to teach us LGBT
people with love and respect. It is only extreme activists who think the only
way to treat us with respect is to change your position on same-sex marriage,
which the Church will never do.

BTW, to all those who think the
church will never ordain gay bishops, I hate to break it to you, but they have
been doing that for years. They do require gay bishops to remain faithful to
their wives, just like straight ones, but there are gay bishops who are able to
accomplish that.

As a member of the LDS church, if a private citizen or business chooses not to
associate with me because of my "Mormonism" then that is their right and,
although I think they are jerks because of their bigotry, I will defend their
right to choose how they live their lives and conduct their business.

Living outside of Utah I ran into bigoted people who, upon discovery of my
religious association, treated me and my children with contempt and
discrimination. Our response? Deal with it. Life is full of people who are jerks
including homosexual business owners and renters who will not hire Mormons,
Republicans, Catholics, etc. They have the freedom to do so, just as I have the
freedom to not spend my money at their business or rent from them.

Utahns are way too apologetic for their conservative leanings. Live in a
liberal state for a year and you will understand just how hypocritical the
leftist special interest groups are when they are in the majority.

I
would have ZERO hesitation renting to a homosexual. But why should I tell my
neighbor who to rent to? Continued erosion of freedom for all involved.

["I am still baking on it but do not see the need to have even had a
spokesperson make a statement about it. I am not all seeing or knowing either
but seek out enlightenment whenever I can. "]

you don't understand
why they did this? really? give it some thought, soldierboy. it is so they
can say "look - see - we don't hate gays. we want good things for them - see
how we look out for their well-being? we just don't want them to have the same
things we have, such as marriage. They're just too... different". so now you
understand why the church spoke out on this? they're looking for
brownie-points.

but you as a soldier should know the basic tenet of
the military... one "aw shoot" wipes out 100 "attaboys". (cleaned it up a bit
but you get my meaning....) so if they think this buys them much they are
probably wrong.

I hope that people in the church stand up and show there concern about this.
People make up the church, and I for one will make my disgust for this decision
known. Who is with me, brothers and sisters, who is with me??????????????